Oaks Integrated Care Selected as CMS ACCESS Model Behavioral Health Provider
April 17, 2026 | DistilINFO: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched a bold new reimbursement initiative. Called the Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions (ACCESS) model, it aims to transform how behavioral health care is paid for and delivered across the United States.
Unlike traditional fee-for-service reimbursement, the ACCESS model ties payments directly to patient outcomes. Providers receive compensation based on measurable improvements in chronic conditions. For behavioral health, those conditions are depression and anxiety, tracked through the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 assessment scales.
The program is voluntary and spans 10 years. It begins July 5, 2026, and reflects CMS’s growing confidence in digital-first, technology-supported behavioral health care — an approach that gained significant momentum after the COVID-19 pandemic.
